Sponge rubber brush



Oct. 28, 1941. l. H. LORENZ SPONGE RUBBER BRUSH Filed March 15, 1940 AHORA/E YS Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE sPoNGE RUBBER BRUSH Irvin- Lorenz, Arlington, Calif. Application Merch 15, 1940, serial No. 324,164 (c1. 15244) y 1 Claim.

` This invention relates to a new and improved sponge rubber brush and has for one of its principal objects means for brushing floors or the like with no danger of nicking or marring the floor, furniture or anything within which it may come in contact.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a brush or mop made of a single piece of sponge rubber and the provision of means for securely supporting a handle thereon.

Another and further important object of this invention is to provide a brush that i-s capable of cleaning oors, walls or ceilings without any changes whatsoever.

A still further important object of the device of this invention is the provision of a brush or mop, with a completely covered reenforcing element, that can be used either wet or dry.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter morefully described.

In the drawing:

Figure l'discloses a side elevation of the sponge rubber brush of this invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with parts broken away to lshow the reenforcing element and handling assembly.

Figure 3 is an end view of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the sponge rubber brush taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail of the handle and reenforcing element.

Figure 6 is an end view of a slight modification of the device.

Figure '7 is another end view of Aa still further modification ofthe brush of this invention.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral ID indicates generally sponge rubber or the like which constitutes a main body portion of the brush or mop of this invention. Extending from the top of the sponge rubber brush I is a handle I2 broken so as to indicate longer length. As best shown in Figure 3 this sponge rubber I0 is a single piece of material doubled over upon itself and cemented together on the line I4. Figure 2 shows the reenforcing element I6 embedded immediately below the folding point of the rubber. As can be readily seen this reenforcing element extends approximately all the way across the brush but is slightly shy of being iiush with the end so that the sponge rubber completely covers the reenforcing element I6. This element I6 can be made of any suitable material, but is preferably made of some type of steel as it is necessary for it to possess more than average strength. The handle I2 made of wood or the like is bolted to the reenforcing element I6 at I8. Figure 5 best shows the structure of this reenforcing element I6. It is made from a single piece of material bent around itself somewhat similar to the sponge rubber as previously described. However, the upper fold is made circular in cross-section as can be seen at 26. The handle I2 is provided With a slot or cut-out portion 22 to enable it to fit over the top of the reenforcing element I6 and its round circular top 20. The handle is then bolted to the reenforcing element as shown at I 8.

In assembling this device the handle I2 is fastened to the reenforcing element and a single piece of sponge rubber I Il is bent down evenly over the length of the reenforcing element I6. A cement is applied to the inner faces of the folded portion of the sponge rubber shown at I4 and hence the rubber is securely cemented to the reenforcing `element I6, to the handle I2, and upon itself.

In operation this brush is capable of dry or wet cleaning. In cleaning floors, walls, ceilings A or the like, the brush is simply run over them and it absorbs a great quantity of dirt and dust. The reason for its excellent quality of absorption is the enormous amount of surfaces that are provided by the very porous sponge rubber. It actually soaks up the dirt.l When used as a mop in wet cleaning this same absorption holds true and it is possible to clean a `Iioor 0r any other surface by going over it only once. Generally with an ordinary mop it is necessary to wet the floor and then mop up the wet oor after wringing out the mop. The sponge rubber material used in this mop does just what its name implies. It acts as a sponge for water or other fluid and is capable of holding therein a large quantity of Water or other fluid.

In wielding a mop or brush it is not infrequently that the mop Istrikes a piece of furniture or other article which it is desired to keep in perfect condition. The mop of this invention cannot hurt any piece of furniture or other objects because it is completely covered with a soft plushy sponge rubber. There is no hard surface on this brush with which it may come in contact with the aforesaid objects.

The modification shown in Figure 6 has the fold of the sponge rubber at the bottom of the brush, thus providing the cleaning edge with an oval shaped end 24. This sponge rubber 26, as shown in Figure 6 is cemente at 28 and up to the handle 30. c

A further modification is shown in Figure 7. The sponge rubber 32 is folded around a reenforcing element (not shown) and cemented upon itself at 34 but instead of having a flat bottom as shown at 36 in Figures 3 01-.4 the lower edge of this brush is rounded as shown atv38.

The modications shown in Figures 6 and '7 both have brushes with'oval shaped lower edges. It is believed that in some instances the curved lower edges will provide a more ecient'cleanin'g device, but either shaped lower edge may beusecl.

This device is simple and economical to manufacture and yet it provides a brush, mop, or any cleaning device that a person may wish to use. The utility of this brush varies over a wide range. It may be used a-s a wall paper cleaner yor it is possible to use it as -a floor mop.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the cl-aim.

I claim as my invention:

A cleaning device comprising a basic reenforcing element, said reenforcing element being a single strip of material folded in U shape, the ends of the U pressed together whereby a, beaded top remains, a handle having a slot, therein mounted on this basic reenforcing element with the bead at the top, fastening means between the reen- Y forcing element and the handle, a piece of sponge rubber folded in U shape over the bead of the reenforcing element and around the handle, the inner faces of the sponge rubber cemented to the reenforcing element and to each other, the

sponge rubber extending beyond the ends of the y reenforcing element whereby no hard surface is exposed. v

IRVIN H VLORENZ. 

